East Side Envy

Tin Mill Brewing has just annouced the 7th Annual Augusta Bottoms Beer Festival.  It will be held october 3rd near the Katy Trailhead in Augusta, MO.  $25 gets you beer, live music and a nifty tasting glass.  It is going to be a very East Side-centric, with only Boulevard representing the West Side of the state.  Which isn't a snub to the West.  The East Side of Missouri has a lot of beer activity, primarily due to all the breweries in and around Saint Louis.  Just take a look at some of the brewers coming in who represent the East Side:

• Schlafly
• O'Fallon Brewery
  
• Augusta Brewing
  
• Tin Mill
• Buckner Brewing
• Trailhead Brewing
• Buffalo Brewing 
• Griesedieck Brothers Brewing 
• ...Michalob?

Not only are there a lot of breweries, there seem to be a lot more beer events.  Schlafly just had a successful HOP in the City event last week and then immediately announced the Fresh Hop Ale Fest .  Cicero's Italian Restaurant has an ongoing Beer School program where you can learn more about beer styles, often from directly involved in the beer industry. The Wine and Cheese Place has their finger on the pulse of rare and experimental beers from all around the world.  They are regularly announcing arrivals of beers I have never heard of.   Plus beer and cheese pairings.

This is not to say there is nothing happening on the KC side of the state.  Boulevard still has a monthly  Brewmaster Luncheon, though seating is usually very limited.  Flying Saucer has weekly mini-events/promotions.  The Weston Irish Fest is coming up shortly, and that is one of the best Irish fests in the country. 

There are also quite a few things going on right over the state border in Kansas.  Barley's Brewhaus has a Beer School program similar to the one at Cicero's.  Even the KC Beerfest is being held in Kansas over by the Legends.

It could be that Saint Louis organizers are a bit better at getting the word out.  If there is anything going on in the West Side of MO, I would love to hear about it.

Cheers and Beers!